Mining apparatus having tubular digging tool



May 1, 1962 R. w. PETERSON 3,032,325

MINING APPARATUS HAVING TUBULAR DIGGING TOOL Filed Sept. 10, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

/l l B Om rmnueys May 1, 1962 R. w. PETERsoN 3,032,325

MINING APPARATUS HAVING IUBULAR DIGGING TOOL Filed Sept. lO, 1958 l l I;I u `5 @a g 5 150 i 5125/193 g e7 e2 W H4 INVENTOR.

rmeugs United States Patent Orifice 3,3Z,325 Patented May 1, 19623,032,325 MENING APPARATUS HAVEN@ 'IUBULAR DIGGING T0912 Richard WilliamPeterson, 12d Atkinson Lane, Watsonvilie, Calif. Filed Sept. 10, 1958,Ser. No. 760,258 1 Claim. (Cl. 262-5) This invention relates to miningapparatus and more particularly to an earth digging apparatus forexcavating earth and rock formations containing valuable mineral andnon-metallic compounds.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a miningapparatus which will excavate the softer rock formation containingvaluable mineral and nonmetallics and which will in addition, remove thebroken debris in the manner of a mucking machine.

An object of this invention is to provide an earth digging machine fortunneling generally horizontal mine shafts underground without thenecessity of blasting or explosive digging. Such a digging operationobviates the necessity of slioring and similar mine shaft reinforcementand construction which is necessary when explosives are used.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedmine digging and excavating apparatus by which the material removed indigging the shaft is conveyed to a point of disposal. The operation ofthe apparatus as a mucking machine is faster, more eiiicient, and moreeconomical than present devices for that purpose and has greatermaneuverability and flexibility of operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedearth digging apparatus which is flexible in operation and control andwhich is adapted for use in underground mines having low head room inthe shafts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an excavationapparatus, for removal without prior blasting, materials such as: coal,gypsum, diatomite, bentonite, shale, volcanic tuffs, looselyconsolidated conglomerates, volcanics, clays, sandstones, serpentines,laterites, mudstone, talc, decomposed igneous rocks, and related mineralbearing rocks. The apparatus is particularly adapted to mercury mining,where a high degree of selectivity is required to remove the valuableproduct in a clean and uncontaminated state and yet the disturbance ofthe surrounding rock material is not desirable because of the addedmechanical support necessary where it is disturbed by the shatteringaction of explosives. The same is true of other mining operations suchas talc mining.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for underground,as well as surface operation, the very great force which is necessary toexcavate. As an example, in the present state of the art, gypsumrequires prior blasting for excavation while the present inventioneliminates the need for such blasting. The present invention isparticularly advantageous for mining those formations which are notfriable and therefore consume large amounts of explosives due to theresilience of the material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mine diggingapparatus which will dig generally horizontal mine shaft having smoothwalls and accurate dimensions.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mine diggingapparatus which exerts a high digging thrust, both horizontally andvertically, upon relatively hard formations to achieve fast andeflicient digging through hard formations.

It is a still further object of the' present invention to provide a minedigging apparatus which will dig generally horizontal mine shafts at arate of speed far in excess of that achieved by the use of explosives orother means heretofore known to the art.

The present invention is an improved mine digging apparatus adapted tobe moved within an underground mine shaft, and includes a formationbreaking or digging tool which is mounted upon the chassis of theapparatus. Means are provided for pivotally moving the digging toolabout a horizontal axis and about a vertical axis. Means are alsoprovided to move and thrust the digging tool radially in the verticalplane of movement. Anchoring means are engageable with the side walls ofthe mine shaft to maintain the position of the apparatus against anymoving forces exerted by the digging tool. Means are included forconveying the material removed by the digging tool and for moving theapparatus within the mine shaft.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention both as to its organization and method of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof will be better understoodfrom the following description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which several embodiments of the method of thepresent invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose ofillustration and example only, and is not intended as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an overall view in elevation of the presently preferredembodiment of the invention shown in operative position within a mineshaft;

FIGURE 2 is an end view taken along line 2 2 oi FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 FIGURE 6 is apartially sectional view of the anchoring cylinder of the presentinvention; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic view of the hydraulic system of the apparatus.

ln the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawingsa chassis frame 10 is mounted upon a self-propelled base. in theembodiment shown the selfpropelled base comprises a forward endlesstread section 11 and a rear endless tread section 12. The forwardsection is pivotally mounted to the chassis frame lt!` and is pivotallymovable in response to steering means described hereinafter to steer theapparatus when in motion. The rear tread section 12 is stationary withrespect to the frame 10 and is driven -by an electric motor (not shown),or similar prime mover means to propel the apparatus during movement ofthe apparatus about the mine and during digging operations. As shown inFIGURE 1, the Vforward and rear treads can be interconnected by a driveshaft 15, to provide more positive movement of the apparatus. Variousmeans of propelling and moving the apparatus chassis which are wellknown to the art may suitable material is mounted upon a plurality ofidler f rollers Ztl and a friction driving roller 21 by means well knownto the art. That is, the conveyor belt 13 is extended beneath and overthe lowermost idler roller 23 and over the series of idler rollers 213upon which it is supported. The conveyor belt 11% then passes over andis frictionally engaged with the driver roller 21 which is in turndriven by an electric motor 24 through suitable interconnecting meanssuch as a belt drive 2S. The motor 24 then drives the driving rollercounterclockwise in FIG URE 1 to engage the belt and move it upward andaway from the lowermost roller 23. Surrounding the conveyor belt 13proximate the lower end thereof is a bottomless material receivinghopper 27. That is, the hopper 27 denes an end wall 29 and sides whichare inclined downward and toward a portion of the conveyor belt whichtforms the bottom of the hopper. Material which is deposited in thehopper 27 is accordingly deposited upon the conveyor belt 18 andconveyed out of the hopper when the belt is in motion. The material isconveyed upward and over the driving roller 21 where it is `allowed tofall into a mine car 30. The speed of the electric motor 24 and thus ofthe conveyor belt 18 may be varried to remove varying amounts ofmaterial which are loaded into the hopper 27.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 5, the digging tool 32 inaccordance with this invention and the means by which it is mounted uponthe chassis 107 is shown in detail. The digging tool 32 comprises atubular member 33 which is of substantially square cross-section in thisembodiment and open at both ends thereof. The tubular member is formed,for example, of one half inch steel plate. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 5,the outer end of the tubular member 33 is coextensive with the diggingmember 35 which defines Ia lower surface 36 extending toward thelongitudinal axis of the digging tool from the lower surface thereof andterminating in digging teeth 37. The digging member further defines anopening 39 coextensive with the tubular member 33 at an angle extendingfrom the upper surface of the square tubular member and toward thelongitudinal axis. Thus, the digging member comprises in general a scoopfor mate- :rial loosened or dislodged by the digging teeth whereby thematerial is caused to be moved into the tubular member.

The digging tool is slidably mounted by means of roller guide bearings40' within a mounting member 42. The mounting member 42 has an insideconfiguration of square cross-section in this embodiment with insidedimensions substantially equal to but greater than the outsidedimensions of the tubular member 33. The mounting member 42 defines aplurality of spaced protrusions 43 Within which gmide rollers `40 arerotatably mounted. In the embodiment shown at two longitudinally spacedpositions, yfour pairs of guide rollers 40 are atlixed to the mountingmember 42 at the vcorners thereof, with each pair being aligned with thelongitudinal axis of the tubular member and mateable with adjacent facesof the tubular member 33. That is, in this embodiment the rollers 40 ineach pair are positioned in perpendicular planes parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the tubular member 33 such that each corner of thetubular member is supported by a pair of rotatable bearings 40. As shownin FIGURE 1 two sets of such guide rollers are utilized and arelongitudinally spaced at opposite ends of the mounting member 42. Thus,the digging tool 32 is slidably movable along the longitudinalcenterline of the mounting member 42 and the longitudinal spacingbetween the sets of roller bearings is such that the tubular member 32is slidably `supported at two longitudinal positions regardless of itsposition of travel within the mounting member 42. It may -be seen thatby supporting the tubular member -at each corner of the squarecrosssection and .at two longitudinal positions large forces acting uponthe digging tool will be supported by the support member 42. Inaddition, a bearing roller 46 may be mounted beneath the tubular member33 substantially in the vertical plane through the centerline of thetubular member to provide additional support of the tubular memberagainst excess weight and downward thrust against the digging tool. Thebearing roller 46 is rotatably mounted by means of a bracket 47extending outwardly from the mounting bracket 4S of the mounting memberdescribed hereinafter.

The mounting member 42 is pivotally mounted for pivoted movementsubstantially in a vertical plane. In this embodiment the mountingmember 42 is supported by a mounting bracket 4S which is atiixed to themounting member and extends downwardly therefrom as shown particularlyin FIGURES 1 and 3. That is, the mounting bracket is formed by verticalmounting plates 5t) which are atlixed to, and integral with, themounting member and are spaced apart by a distance approximately equalto the width of the mounting member. As shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 themounting plates S0 extend downward and deiine a bearing opening by whichthe mounting bracket 48 is pivotally mounted upon a horizontal bearingpin 52.

The bearing pin 52 is in turn carried and supported by a supportingframe which includes supporting plates 53. The supporting plates arespaced apart and extend upward from the chassis 10 to position thebearing pin in a horizontal plane a substantial distance above thechassis as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The supporting plates 53 are inturn mounted upon and aixed to a turret plate 54 which is rotatablyaiiixed to the chassis frame 10 for rotation about a substantiallyvertical axis. The turret plate can be aixed to the chassis frame by anysuitable means known to the art to 'accomplish such rotation. However,in this embodiment the turret plate 54 is mounted upon a `symmetricallypositioned vertical shaft 58 which is rotatably mounted within suitablevertical thrust bearings 59 afIixed to the chassis frame 10. As shown inFIGURE 4, the periphery of the turret plate 54 is provided with gearteeth adapted to be engaged by a chain drive 56 as a means for rotatingthe turret plate and the digging tool 32. That is, means are providedforrotating the turret plate through any `required angle. The rotation isaccomplished by means of a hydraulic motor 55 which is connected to thechain drive 56 of the turret plate through suitable gearing such as theworm gear box 57. Thus, in response to hydraulic pressure supplied tothe hydraulic motor, as described hereinafter, the turret plate isdriven through a desired angle of rotation.

The digging tool 32 is pivotable in a substantially vertical plane aboutthe horizontal axis extending through the bearing pin 52. As shown inFIGURES 1 and 2 the means for providing the vertical pivotal movementcomprises a hydraulic cylinder 60 of the type well known to the artwhich is pivotally connected at the first end 61 thereof to a shaft 62mounted between the supporting plates 53. Reciprocable within the pivotcylinder 60 is a piston 63 having a piston rod 64 extending upwardlythrough the packed head of the cylinder. The piston rod is pivotallyconnected to the digging tool mountingr bracket 48 at a position asubstantial distance forward of the pivot point 52. The piston rod isconnected by means of a mounting shaft 65 extended between the mountingplates 50. It may be seen that when hydraulic fluid is supplied to thecylinder at one side of the piston, as described hereinafter, thedigging tool will be pivoted upward or downward as desired, dependentupon the side of the piston to which fluid is supplied, or the tool maybe locked in position. The hydraulic cylinder is of the type well knownto the art wherein a uid inlet and outlet port 66 and 67 are positionedat opposite ends of the cylinder and thus at opposite sides of thepiston. The piston is free to travel within the cylinder in eitherdirection and will be moved in one direction when fluid under pressureis admitted at one port of the cylinder `and exhausted at the otherport. Thus, when fluid under pressure is supplied to the iirst fluidport 66 the digging tool is pivoted upward and fluid is exhausted fromthe second iiuid port 67. Conversely, fluid supplied to the second port67 will cause the digging tool to be pivoted downward.

Similar hydraulic cylinders are affixed to the mounting member 42, asshown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, to cause reciprocation and thrust of thedigging tool within the mounting member. In this embodiment two suchcylinders are used and are mounted at opposite sides of the diggingtool. That is, a first thrust cylinder 70 is affixed to the mountingcylinder 42. while the piston rod 72 which extends from the piston '73is connected to the tubular member 33 of the digging tool at theconnecting bracket 74. A first fluid port 75 is provided to the cylinderproximate the rst end thereof while a second fluid port 77 is providedproximate the second end of the cylinder 70. Similarly, a second thrustcylinder 80 is affixed to the opposite side of the mounting cylinder 42as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The construction and operation of thesecond thrust cylinder Sil is identical to the first thrust cylinder 70and will not be described in detail. Thus, when fluid under pressure isadmitted to the first fluid ports 75 at the rearward end of the thrustcylinders 70 and 80 the pistons 73 are forced forward and a forwardthrust is imparted to the digging tool 32. Since the digging tool isfreely slidable within the mounting member by means of the tubularmember 33 sliding upon the rollers 40 the digging tool will be movedforward in response to the hydraulic pressure. Conversely, when fluid issupplied to the second ports 77 at the forward end of the thrustcylinders 7i) and 80 the digging too-l will be retracted in the mountingcylinder.

From the foregoing it will be seen that three movements can be impartedto the digging tool independently or in combination. That is, thedigging tool can be rotated about the vertical axis extending throughthe center of the turret plate 54; it can be pivoted in a vertical planeabout the horizontal axis extending through the bearing pin 52; and itcan be reciprocated in the vertical plane by forward or rearward motionwithin the mounting cylinder. Each of the movements is in response tohydraulic fluid under pressure as described hereinafter.

In order to prevent movement of the apparatus in response to thereaction of the digging thrust, means are provided for anchoring thechassis at a predetermined position in the mine shaft. That is, if thedigging tool is moved forward to exert cutting force against the mineface 81 an equal force will be created tending to move the apparatusfrom right to left in FIGURE l. In order to prevent such movement ananchoring force in excess of the thrust must be provided. As shown inFIGURES 1, 2, and 6, such anchoring is accomplished in this embodimentby two longitudinally spaced double ended hydraulic anchoring cylinders85 and 85A which are similar in construction and which are mounted uponthe chassis frame in a substantially horizontal position transverse tothe longitudinal centerline of the apparatus. Referring particularly toFIGURE 6, one of the two anchoring cylinders which are double actinghydraulic cylinders of the type well known to the art is shown in detailand comprises a cylinder divided by a fluid tight wall 86 which forms aleft cylinder 88 and right cylinder 89. 'Ihe wall 86 is the inner end ofeach. A left piston 90 and a right piston 91 are reciprocally mountedwithin the anchoring cylinder 85. Piston rods 92 and 93 are affixed tothe pistons 90 and 91 respectively and extend horizontally through theends of the cylinder 85. Formation engaging teeth 94 are formed upon theouter end of the piston rods or upon an engaging plate afHXed thereto.In the presently preferred embodiment an engaging plate 150 and 150A isused at each side of the chassis and is extended longitudinally andaflixed to the piston rod 92 and 93 respectively of each of thecylinders 85 and 85A. The engaging plate 150, 159A is substantiallyrectangular in configuration and is of sufficient length to be connectedto both of the anchoring cylinders 85, SSA which are in turnlongitudinally spaced apart by a distance dependent upon theconstruction of the chassis and forward trend of the apparatus as wellas the size of the engaging plate required to anchor the apparatus asdescribed hereinafter. The optimum distance between cylinders and thesize of the engaging plate for a given application can be readilydetermined by one skilled in the art, it being understood that for someapplications a single anchoring cylinder is sufficient. In thisembodiment the forward anchoring cylinder is aflixed to the chassis suchthat it extends through the forward tread 11 between the drive wheelswhile the rearward anchoring cylinder 85A is rearward of the tread. Theengaging teeth 94 are such that they will enter into and engage the sidewall formation of the mine shaft. Fluid inlet and outlet ports arepositioned at opposite sides of the center wall 86 and proximate theends of the cylinder 85 and 85A to provide fluid inlet and outlet portsfor the left and right fluid chambers at each side of the cylinders.Again the pistons 90, 91 are free to move within the respective chambersof both cylinders and both will be moved outward when fluid is admittedunder pressure through the inner fluid ports 96 and 97 and exhausted atthe outer ports 9S and 99. Similarly, the piston and piston rods Will beretracted when the fluid is admitted through the outer ports.

In the embodiment shown the engaging plates 150 and 150A are generallychannel shaped steel webs having replaceable engaging teeth 94 of hardfaced carbon steel on the outer surface thereof. The engaging plates arepivotally affixed at the ends of the piston rod such that the webconstruction of the plates and the pivotal mounting gives sufficientfreedom of movement to allow suficient deformation of the plates toinsure firm engagernent with the side walls of the mine shaft. Since thedigging apparatus will not always be at the center of the mine shaft itis preferable to provide for unequal movement of the right and leftpistons and 91, and the plates 156) and 159A attached thereto, bysuitable fluid For example, referring to valving or similar means.FIGURES 6 and 7, fluid is supplied at pressure as described hereinafterto a fluid manifold 10'1. Shut off valves 102 are connected to the inletlines to the inlet ports 96 and 97. As fluid is admitted to move thepistons 90 and 91 outward one engaging plate 150 will engage the mineWall before the other. In order to prevent the hydraulic force fromurging the apparatus sideways the fluid flow to the engaged pistons isshut off to allow fluid to flow only to the unengaged pistons until ithas engaged the other mine wall. The valve 102 is then opened tomaintain equal fluid pressure on each piston and accordingly on eachwall engaging plate 150 and 150A. The area of the pistons 90 and 91 andthe fluid pressure acting thereon is determined such that the engagementwith the side walls will be maintained regardless of the amount ofdirection of thrust of the digging tool. The optimum area required to beunder fluid pressure can be determined by one skilled in the art in viewof the present disclosure.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, the presently preferred embodiment of thehydraulic system used in conjunction with the apparatus describedhereinabove is shown. Hydraulic fluid reservoir 1116 is positioned uponthe frame of the apparatus and is connected through suitable ilexiblehydraulic lines to the various hydraulically actuated components asshown schematically in FIGURE 7. Suitable valving is provided by meansof a selector valve 111 which contains a plurality of valve componentsfor admitting fluid under pressure to the various cylinder lines. Amotor driven hydraulic pump 112 is connected between the fluid reservoirand the valve 111. The pump is driven by an electric motor 113 and is ahigh pressure pump of the type well known to the art. Thus, fluid underpressure is conducted from the reservoir 110 to the valve 111 throughthe pump 112. From the valve 111, by the actuation of one or more of itsvalving components, fluid under pressure is admitted to the fluid inletline 114 which is in turn connected at the iiuid inlet port 66 of thepivot cylinder 6i). The second side of the iiuid valve component 115 forconducting fiuid under pressure to the pivot cylinders 6i) is connectedto the second iiuid port 67 of the pivot cylinder 60. The valvecomponent 1115 in the selector valve 111 is of the type whereby fluidunder pressure may be admitted to the fluid line 114 or the second fluidline 116 to in turn conduct iiuid to the ports 66 or 67 as desired. Theline which does not conduct fiuid under pressure then serves as a iiuidreturn line to the valve 111. Thus, as described hereinabove, thedirection in which the piston 63 of the pivot cylinder 612 is moved isdetermined by the direction of iiuid iiow and the port 66 or 67 to whichthe fluid is admitted. Similarly, second `fluid valve component 118 inthe selector valve 111 is provided for determining the direction offluid flow to the thrust cylinders '76 and 80. A fiuid line 119 extendsfrom the valve to the first ports 75 of the thrust cylinders 7i) and S0while a second line 120 extends from the other side of the valve 118 tothe second ports 77 of the thrust cylinders 79 and Si). By means of thevalve 11S it is determined that fluid will flow under pressure to eitherthe ports 75 or the ports 77 to cause the thrust cylinder pistons 73 tomove in the desired direction as disclosed hereinabove. Accordingly, itmay be seen that by actuating the valve i115 by means of the lever 121the digging tool 32 may be caused to move up and down in a verticalplane dependent upon which direction the lever 121 is pivoted to selectthe direction of fluid flow land thus the direction of movement of thepistons 63. Similarly, by actuating the lever 122 to determine thedirection of iiuid flow to the thrust cylinders, the digging tool may becaused to move inward or outward in the vertical plane. A third controllever 123 in the selector valve 111 determines the direction of rotationof the hydraulic motor 55 to cause rotation of the digging tool upon theturret plate 54 through fiuid inlet 124 and outlet 125' lines to thehydraulic motor 55. Fluid lines 126 and y127 are provided fordetermining the direction of movement of the hydraulic steering cylinder128 which is aiiixed to the forward steering tread 11 of the chassis ina manner well known to the art. A uid return line 129 interconnects theselector valve return manifold for valve 111 and the steering cylindervalve to return excess fluid therefrom to the reservoir 110.

A high pressure line is directly connected between the fiuid reservoir11G and the anchoring cylinder manifold and reservoir 101 through acheck-valve 13@ and a pressure accumulator 131. Therefor, the pressureavailable to the anchoring cylinder manifold is always a peak pressureequal to the greatest pressure which is utilized to actuate any of thehydraulic components used to move the digging tool 32. Accordingly, thepressure available to move the anchoring cylinder pistons 90 and 91 intoengagement with the side walls of the mine shaft is sufficiently greaterto cause their engagement with enough force to counteract any forcesexerted in the digging operation and maintain the apparatus in position.

Accordingly, it may lbe seen that by means of the present invention amining apparatus is provided in which the digging tool may be moved in ahorizontal plane with respect to the apparatus in a vertical plane forextracting mine formations and in a radial line of the vertical plane.

In addition, means are provided for maintaining the apparatus in aconstant position within the mine shaft although high digging forces-areexerted by the digging tool. The machine operates under a fast cycle,because there is no dela-y in passing the excavated debris to dischargeand therefore has an economic advantage as well as a capacity advantagefor each operation. Thus, the machine is more efiicient not only forhandling excavated materials, but for the actual excavation itself. Theexcavation can .be done in a manner which permits, in tunneling ordrifting, a higher cut to `be taken from the center of the roof orbacks; this assists the natural arching effect which is of majorimportance in the matter of ground support and eliminates much of theneed for timbering, or the shoring of the ground.

What is claimed is:

A mining apparatus comprising: an apparatus chassis, a digging toolmounted thereon, said digging tool including an open ended tubularmember and means for slidably mounting said tubular member, saidmounting means being a sleeve within which said tubular member islongitudinally slidable, said mounting means being pivotally connectedfor pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis with respectto said apparatus, a formation engaging member affixed to said tubularmember at a first open end thereof and coextensive therewith, saidformation engaging member having means at the periphery thereof forbreaking a mine formation, said mounting means being affixed to saidchassis upon a horizontally rotatable turret, hydraulically responsivemeans for rotating said turret, hydraulically responsive means forpivoting said digging tool about said horizontal axis with respect tosaid mounting means, hydraulically responsive means for slidably movingsaid tubular member longitudinally within said mounting means, aconveyor for moving said broken formation, said conveyor co-operativelymounted upon said apparatus and extending from a first receivingposition to a second discharging position, said first position beinglocated upon said apparatus to receive `broken formation discharged fromthe second open end of said tubular member whereby broken formation isconducted through said second end, and from said second end to saidconveyor, and means for anchoring said apparatus chassis within a mineshaft, said anchoring means including a cylinder affixed to said chassissubstantially transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof, first andsecond pistons positioned within said cylinder and extending therefrom,said pistons being slidably movable in response to hydraulic pressureadmitted to said cylinder, means for conducting fluid under pressure toVReferences Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,601,134 Mattinson Sept. 28, 1926 1,665,378 Peterson Apr. 10, 19281,987,982 Wheely Jan. 15, 1935 2,760,766 Mayo Aug. 28, 1956

